Huckabee and the Houston Baptists

Robert Novak:

WHEN Mike Huckabee went to Houston Tuesday to raise funds for his fast-rising, money-starved candidacy, a luncheon for the ordained Baptist minister was arranged by evangelical Christians. On hand was Judge Paul Pressler, a hero to Southern Baptist Convention reformers. But he was a non-paying guest who supports Fred Thompson for president.

Huckabee greeted Pressler warmly. That contrasted with Huckabee's anger two months ago when they saw each other in California. The Arkansas ex-governor took issue then with comments by Pressler that Huckabee had been a slacker in the war against secularists in the Baptist church.

Warmth in Texas and hostility in California reflects the dual personality of the pastor-politician: Huckabee can come over as either a Reagan or a Nixon. More than personality explains why not all his Baptist brethren have signed on the dotted line for Huckabee. He didn't join the "Conservative Resurgence" that successfully rebelled against liberals in the Southern Baptist Convention a generation ago.

Criticism from co-religionists stands apart from criticism of Huckabee's big-government, high-tax 10 years as governor. Because no GOP candidate since Pat Robertson in 1988 depends so much on support from evangelicals, opposition by fellow Southern Baptists is significant.

Huckabee's base is reflected by sponsors of Tuesday's fund-raiser at the Houston home of Dr. Steve Hotze, a leader in the highly conservative Christian Reconstruction movement. State Rep. Debbie Riddle was the only elected official on the host committee; David Welch is executive director of the Houston Area Pastor Council and entrepreneur J. Keet Lewis is an active Southern Baptist.

Better known is Baptist minister Rick Scarborough, founder of Vision America. In endorsing Huckabee on Nov. 1, Scarborough said, "I acknowledge that Huckabee is not the perfect candidate" but one "who will listen to wise counsel."

Scarborough and Huckabee clashed during the Baptist Wars. Fighting to drive the liberals from the temple, Scarborough was badly defeated for president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas while Huckabee embraced the liberal church establishment to become president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

Judge Pressler, leading the Southern Baptist "Conservative Resurgence" in the late '70s, agreed with Scarborough about Huckabee's orientation and went a different route in current presidential politics, endorsing Thompson on Dec. 7. Pressler is known to be concerned that Huckabee plays to the establishment and would be subservient to the State Department and The New York Times.

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Thompson does appear to be the conservative alternative to what many perceive as a liberal Baptist Huckabee. Huckabee has that Arkansas political charm most of the time and many find it attractive, but I think there is likely to be some buyer's remorse as more of his tax and spend agenda gets exposed. The question may be whether conservative Christians will back him because of a "Member of the Tribe" perception or because of his positions on the issues. The two may not be the same.

Jim Geraghty points out that Baptist make up about five percent of Iowa voters and 45 percent of South Carolina voters, but Huckabee is doing better in in Iowa. I suspect Iowa is where Huckabee has invested most of his time and resources.